Shock and disappointment. My first two reactions on reading about the decisions of New York City citizens who recently opted to vote for a known socialist. Some say a communist. Unquestionably a man loyal to his Islamic beliefs in a way that should leave us all wondering how/why a growing number of Americans are changing the political landscape.

In the New York City’s mayoral race in June, Democratic voters nominated Zorhan Mamdani to be their candidate in the upcoming November election. Is Mamdani a “true blue” American?

Not according to his mother. A 2013 story found in the India-based Hindustan Times quoted Mamdani’s mother Mira, an Indian-American filmmaker, saying:

“He is a total desi (one from the country.). Completely. We are not firangs (roughly=outsiders) at all. He is very much us. He is not an Uhmericcan [American] at all.”

Oh great.

Maybe since 2013 he’s changed. Not a chance. Columnist and radio host Mark Levin reported “Mamdani proudly backs the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement, celebrates the phrase ‘globalize the intifada,’ and proposes radically socialist policies.”  This would include rent freezes, city-owned grocery stores, and a Department of Community Safety (aka—get rid of the city police.)

Levin fears that if Mamdani wins the general election—and he likely will—people will leave the city. Businesses wiill “depopulate.” The replacements, claims Levin, will likely be radical Islamic elements who soon will find “New York City to be a draw.” Witness what has happened in Minnesota. And Michigan. And with “the squad” in Congress.

Some of the funding for Mamdani’s campaign came from CAIR—the Council on American-Islamic Relations. We often hear from this creatively titled group responding to any story in the Chicago news scene where they feel the Muslim population is being marginalized. Their founding, claims Mark Levin, is directly tied to Hamas.

But now…as the legendary, late Paul Harvey might say: “page two!”

In my younger years, I was retained as a youth group leader by a church in northern California. Among my high school students was a sincere person of faith from a family of means. He could have succeeded in a variety of lucrative fields. Instead, he opted for ministry. And as his spiritual fate would have it, a ministry he and his wife would have to Muslims. They even raised a family in a heavily Middle Eastern Islamic community.

My friend and his wife have a most sincere and committed love for Jesus. Well beyond most people I know.  It has been demonstrated time and again. They’ve even helped set up centers for women who need “an escape.”

Many Christians are fearful about Muslim neighbors and the growing influence of Islam in America. My friend and his wife now reside in a European country where those fears are common. Yet they continue to build bridges of faith while capably sharing the distinctive of truly following in Jesus’ footsteps.

I interviewed a man during my radio days who has journeyed out of his Islamic past to pursue a path of following Jesus. His name is Abdu Murray. Murray has written several books, including More than a White Man’s Religion, Saving Truth, and Grand Central Question. Today you will find him frequently speaking to college students about the arguments that led him to convert from Islam to Christianity.

His conversion process took roughly nine years. As he describes it, “I got all the answers within the first two years. I spent the other seven coming to terms with it.” In debating Islam with friends from other faiths, Abdu said he found most compelling the contradictions in the Quran regarding the truth of the Bible.

I wonder how Murray or my youth group friend might go about showing the love of Jesus to Zorhan Mamdani. Would you or I be willing to take such a step?

As it is written, “Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15, HCSB) 

I frequently question the effectiveness of “interfaith dialogue.” Not this time.